Convertible safety and positive draft device



June 29,1926. 1,590,857

M. A. SAGEN CONVERTIBLE SAFETY AND POSITIVE DRAFT DEVICE Filed Feb. 9,1923 1 IflV-E/V ran. 1 mmruv /7. 5/16 EN.

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Patented June 29, 1926.

UNHTE srarss PATENTQFFl-CE.

MARTIN A. SAGEN, OF EDMOEE. NORTH DAKOTA,ASSIGNOR F ONE-THIRD TO HILBERTJ. NYHUS, OF EDMORE, NORTH DAKOTA.

CONVERTIBLE SAFETY AND POSITIVE DRAFT. DEVICE.

Application filed. February 9, 1923. Serial No. 617,951.

This invention relates to a draft device or a traction coupling adaptedto connect a tractor with some other member which is drawn thereby. Suchdevices are now commonly used on tractors pulling plows and othersimilar tools. It is desirable at times to have a positive couplingdevice and at other times to have a releasable coupling which willuncouple when a certain stress is placed thereon. Many attempts havebeen made to provide such coupling devices but the same have for themost part been unsuccessful, due to the fact that they were toocomplicated and expensive.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a couplingdevice which can be converted into either a positive coupler orreleasable coupler and one which is extremely simple in construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a devicecomprising a casing having a pivoted latch therein and having acomparatively small flat bar mounted at one side of the casing havingmeans at both sides adapted to co-operate with the latch, which plate isreversible to swing either means into operative position so as to formeither a positive coupler or releasable coupler. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a latch of such formthat the coupler is automatically coupled by the members connectedthereto.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the different views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the device, certain parts beingshown in vertical section;

F i 2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in side elevation of the coupling latch andreversible bar in one position;

F 5 is a fragmentary view of parts of the bar and latch in anotherposition; and b Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the reversible Referring tothe drawings, the device comprises a casing formed, preferably of twoparallel plates 1 which are held in properly spaced relation by blocks 2and 8 disposed respectively at the top and bottom portions and adjacentthelongitudinal edges of said plates and connected thereto by transverserivets, the heads of which rivets arefiush with the exterior=.surface ofthe plates thus forming a smooth outside surface for the casing. Theplates have a plurality of spaced apertures adjacent one end throughwhich headed and nutted bolts 4 are adapted to pass. toconnect thecasing to the draw bar 5 of the tractor, which draw bar 5 is illustratedas also provided with a plurality of apertures 6, thus affordingadjustment of position for the casing. The plates 1 are also providedwith alined holes 28 forward of the bolts 4. It is sometimes desired touse a long straight draw bar which can be connected by a bolt passingthrough the holes 28 and will extend between the bolts 4. At the forwardend of the casing is pivotally mounted a latch member 7 mounted on arivet extending through the plates 1 and lying flush therewith. Thelatch 7 isadapted to swing between the plates "1 and comprises a main orlonger arm having a head portion 8 thereon, the rear side of which isadapted to engage with the inclined forward edge of the block 2, whichblock thus forms a stop for said latch member when the latter is inhitching position. The plates 1 are slitted a short distance from theirfront edge at their bottom portions and turned inwardly substantially atright angles to form a lip 27 projecting toward the other plate. Theselips form astop member for the latch when it is in its open position, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The said head 8 is formed with a substantially flat surface9 adjacentits upper end and above said surface is formed with a more roundedsurface 10. Said latch also has a shorter armll projecting for a slightangle to. the main arm and at the rear thereof. The main arm of thelatch is adapted to be embraced by a coupling member 12 which, in theembodiment of the invention illustrated is shown as a bar having anaperture adjacent its end through which said arm passes and the plates1' have cutaway portions or notches 13 extending rearwardly thereinsubstantially at their central portions to accommodate the couplingmember 12. Disposed above the plates 1 and the block 2 and restingthereon is a bar 14, the forward end of which is adapted to cooperatewith the head 8 on the latch member 7 and for which purpose the bar isprovided on opposite sides with lip portions 15 and 16, said bar beingreversible to bring either lip into position to engage the latch head 8.The lip 16 is formed with a forwardly and upwardly inclined surface (seeFigure 5) and with a shorter rear surface 18 extending substantiallynormal to said inclined surface. The rear surface is adapted to beengaged by the surface 10 on the head Saudis disposed at such an anglethat when sufficient pressure is exerted in the forward direction on thelatch member the bar 14 will be cammed upwardly by engagement of thesurface 10 with said surface 18. The lip 15 also has a forwardlyinclined and curved surface and is provided with a reversely inclinedrear surface 17. This sur face 17 is adapted to co-operate with thesurface-9 on the latch head 8 and said surfaces are so'arranged as shownin Fig. 5, that they will positively interlock and the bar 14 cannot becammed upwardly by any forward pressure on the latch 7 Thebar 14 is heldin position by a rod or bolt member 19 formed with a head resting onsaid bar and extending through an aperture located in the longitudinalcenter line of said barv and substantiallycentrally thereof, said boltalso passing through an alining aperture in the block 2. Said'bolt isthreaded at its lower end to receive a nut member '20 of angular shapeand which is preferably square. Surrounding the bolt 19' between theblock 2 and the nut 20 is apair of springs 21 and 22. The spring 21 ismuch heavier and stronger than the spring 22, which latter is disposedwithin the spring 21, and when in this normal extended position issomewhat longer than the Spring 21. The bar 14 can be swung laterallyabout the boltv 19 and to prevent this lateral swinging movement whendesired a clip 23 formed of a small fiat substantially rectangular plateis pivoted at the side' of one of the plates 1 by a pivot screw 24having a. coiled spring 25 thereon disposed between the inside of theplate 1 and the nut on said screw. The plates 1 are provided with alinedapertures 26 above the slots 13 immediately infront of the arms of latch7 and said plates are also provided with angular notches at theirforward upper edges to accommodate the movements of the bar 14. WVhenthe device is arranged to form a releasable draft or hitching device,the plate 14 will be disposed as shown in Fig. 1 with the lip 16 inposition to engage the latch head 8. The casing 1 will be secured willstrike the arm 11 and swing the latch toward block 2. As the latchengages the forward inclined surface of lip 16, it will cam said hp andbar 14 upwardly compressing the springs 21 and 22. After the latch armhas contacted with the block 2. the lip 16 and bar 14 will be pulleddown by said springs so that the surface 18 will engage the surface 10on the latch head 8. The device is now in operative position and thedraw bar 12 and device attached thereto can be drawn by the tractor. Ifsufiicient stress is exerted between the coupling 12, and the latch 7,the springs 21 and 22 will be further compressed and the bar 14 will becammed upwardly by'the surfaces 10 and 18 and the latch will then swingforwardly and release the coupling member.

Vith the arrangement of the parts described it is seen that the deviceconstitutes an automatic coupler which is brought to coupling positionmerely by the relative movements of the coupled parts and which will bereleased when a certain predetermined stress is exerted thereon. The nut20 can, of course, be adjusted to give the desired tensionon the springs21 and 22 so that the device can be arrangedto release under differenttensions. There is no particular tendency for the bar 14 to swivel.about the bolt 19 and such swivelling movement can be prevented, ifdesired; by swinging the plate 23 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3to contact with the side of said bar. This plate is friction-ally heldin position against the side of plate 1 by the spring 25-. The screw 24is provided with a square nut disposed with one side sub stantially inengagement with the bottom of block 2 so that the nut cannot turn afterthe tension of spring 25 has been adjusted.

If it is desired to use the device as a positive hitch or draft devicethe bar 14 will be reversed by removing the bolt 19' and placing the bar14 in position so that the lip 17 will be in position to co-act with thelatch head 8. The device can be automatically coupled as before byrelative movement of the casing and coupler 12. The latch willcamagainst the forward curved surfaces of the lip 15 and raise the bar 14to permit the latch head to swing into hitch-- all) about the bolt 19.

ing position with the surface 9 in engagement with the surface 17. Thesurfaces .when thus in Contact are in looking engagement and the saidsurfaces will not act to cam the bar 1% upwardly, no matter what stressis placed thereon. When the device is so used, the nut 20 is adjusted sothat it is at the extreme lower end of the bolt 19 and the spring 22only is in operative position. The spring 21 thus does not have to becompressed when the latch 7 is swung to hitching position. The latch maybe released by lifting the bar it with the parts in slack relation or byswinging the bar 14: When the device is be mg used as a releasablehitch, if it is momentarily desired to exert great stress thereon a pincan be passed through the holes 26, thus positively locking the latch 7in position and preventing release of the same.

While the device is illustrated and described as operating with theplates in vertical position, it is obvious that the same would operatejust as well if the plates occupy a horizontal position. Fig. 1 wouldthen be considered a plan view of the device. The hitch can thus beusedand disposed in various planes.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided anextremely simple draft device and one which can quickly and easily bechanged to form either an efficient releasable device or a positivehitch device. The parts used are very few and easily made and assembled.There is a very small nu1nber of moving parts and the casing has asmooth and substantially unobstructed exterior surface. There is no'chance for dirt or other foreign matter to accumulate and interfere withthe operation of the device.

It will, of course, be understood that var ous changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which, generallystated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A draft device comprising a casing, a latch pivoted at the frontportion thereof and a reversible bar disposed at one side of said casinghaving means on one side adapted. to co-operate with said latch and beinterlocked therewith to form a positive hitch,

and having means on its other side adapted.

to co-operate with said latch to form a releasable hitch, said bar beingresiliently held in position.

2. A draft device comprising a casing and a spring-controlled memberconnected there to having spaced surfaces thereon. sa d memher beingadapted to be disposed in either of two positions with one or the otherof said surfaces, respectively, in operative position, said deviceforming a releasable hitch with said member in one position with one ofsaid surfaces in operative position and forming a positive hitch whensaid member is in its other position with said other surface inoperative position.

8. A draft device comprising space-d connected plates, a flat bardisposed over the edges of said plates, lips formed on said bar adjacentits end having forwardly inclined edges and beveled and inclined rearsurfaces, respectively, a member secured to and between said platesbeneath said bar, a bolt extending through said bar and member andbetween said plates, a nut on said bolt, a spring between said nut andsaid member. and a latch member swingable between said plates and formedto co-operate with either of said lips on said bar whereby said bar maybe reversed and the device arranged to form either a positive hitch or aresiliently held and releasable hitch.

4. The structure setforth in claim 3, said bar being swingable laterallyon said bolt,

and means for preventing such swinging movement.

5. A draft device comprising a narrow casing, a latch pivoted at thefront portion thereof, a bar at one narrow side of said casing, a memberin said casing beneath said bar, a bolt-like rod extending through saidbar and said member, an adjustable means on said rod, springssurrounding said rod and adapted to be compressed between said memberand said adjustable means and to hold said bar in normal position, saidbar having lips on its opposite sides adapted to (ooperate with saidlatch and to engage releasably and positively respectively there withwhereby said bar may be reversed and the device arranged as ither apositive hitch or a releasablehitch j 6. The structure set forth inclaim 5, both of said lips having forwardly inclined surfaces adapted tobe engaged by said latch when the same swings to hitching positionwhereby said bar will be raised and said lips will engage over the frontvend of said latch whereby an automatic coupling device is formed.

7. A draft device comprising a narrow casing, a. latch pivoted at thefront portion thereof, a bar at one narrow side of said casing, a memberin said casing beneath said bar, a bolt-like rod extending through saidbar and said member, an adjustable means on said rod, springssurrounding said rod and adapted to be compressed between said memberand said adjustable means and to hold said bar in normal position, saidbar having lips on its opposite sides adapted to co-operate with saidlatch and to engage releasably and positively respectively therewithwhereby said bar may be reversed and the device arranged as either apositive hitch or a releasable hitch, both of said lips having forwardlyinclined surfaces adapted to be engaged by said latch when the sameswings to hitching positionwhereby said bar will be raised and said lipswill engage over the front end of said latch whereby an automaticcoupling device is formed, one of said springs being longer and lighterthan the other, whereby said spring only will be compressed in theautomatic coupling action 7 when said bar is turned to form a positivehitch. I

8. A draft device comprising a narrow casing, a latch pivotedrat thefront portion thereof, a bar at one narrow side of said casing, a memberin said casing beneath said bar, a. bolt-like rod extending through saidbar and said member, an adjustable means on said rod, springssurrounding said rod andadaptedto be compressed between said member andsaid adjustable means and to hold said bar in normal position,'said barhaving lips on its opposite sides adapted to cooperate with said latchand to engage releasably and positively respectively therewith wherebysaid bar may be reversed and the device arranged as either a positivehitch or a releasable hitch, both of said lips having forward-1yinclined surfaces adapted to be engaged by said latch when the sameswings to hitching position whereby said bar will be raised and saidlips will engage over the front end of said latch whereby an automaticcoupling device is formed, and a coupling member engaging over saidlatch, said latch having a rearwardlyprojecting arm thereon adapted tobe engaged by said coupler: to swing the latch to hitching position.

9. A draft device having in combination, a casing comprising spacedsubstantially parallel plates, a latch pivoted between and atthe frontportion thereof, a block secured to and extending between said plates attheir upper edges, a reversible bar having lips formed at its forwardend and on its opposite sides adapted to co-operate with said latch whenthebar is in its various positions, resilient means holding said bar inposition, and said block having its front edge formed to constitute astop member for said latch when the latter is in hitching position.

10. A draft device comprising a latch and a reversible plate having apair of means thereon adapted to co-operate with said latch when theplate is in its various positions respectively to formeither areleasable draft device or a positive draft device.

11. A draft device comprising a casing, a latch pivoted at the frontportion thereof, a retaining member for. said latch having a pluralityof means thereon adapted to engage said latch, a spring acting on saidmember, said member being adapted to be disposed in one position withone of said means thereon in engagement with said atch to form a i'eleasa'ble hitch and in another position with one of said'means(thereon engaged with said latch to form a positive hitch.

12. A draft device having in combination a casing, a latch pivoted atone end thereof having spaced arms, a member adapted to occupy differentpositions and having means thereon engageable with one of said arms whenin either position and resilient means acting on vsaid member wherebythe latch can be moved against the tension of said latter means'topermit coupling of the device.

InItest-imony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARTIN A. SAGEN.

